Joseph D. Gustavus

Peter Webster focuses his practice in the areas of Real Estate Litigation, Eminent Domain, and Commercial & Business Litigation. Mr. Webster has represented landowners and developers, governmental authorities, utility, transmission, and pipeline companies, educational entities and others in matters involving acquisitions, easements and rights of way condemnation under eminent domain, permit and development rights and the protection of property rights. Mr. Webster’s practice also foc...

Ziyad I. Hermiz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Trade Secrets Law. Ziyad I., who practices law in Birmingham, Michigan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ziyad I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christopher Maeso provides corporate and acquisition legal services for major companies across a wide range of industries including automotive, manufacturing, toy, restaurant, banking, real estate, insurance and technology. He has advised private equity funds regarding fund formation, structure and securities issues and has acted as counsel to private equity funds and buy-out companies in numerous acquisitions, restructuring, financing and divesture transactions. Mr. Maeso represents leading ...

Brian E. Etzel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Employment Law - Individuals. Brian E., who practices law in Birmingham, Michigan, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Monica Labe is a senior member of the firm and was the Practice Department Manager of the firm's Real Estate, Environmental and Energy practices from 2008-2011. She is currently a member of the firm's Management Group, serving as Deputy CEO in Charge of Practice Management and Business Development and Marketing and the prior four years, she oversaw the Finance, Accounting and Human Resources departments for the firm. Ms. Labe has extensive experience representing large multi-national corporat...

Frank focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation and post-grant proceedings. He is well-known by clients and colleagues for his strategies to solve clients’ most challenging IP issues. With over 25 years of experience, Frank has successfully tried patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright cases in Federal Courts nationwide, the Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Federal Circuits, and the International Trade Commission. As a registered patent attorney , Frank is author...

Matt Jakubowski is a multi-faceted patent attorney with extensive experience in IP portfolio management, patent preparation and prosecution, IP agreement drafting and negotiation, and patent litigation. Matt is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and serves as the firm’s treasurer and CFO. He counsels clients in a wide range of intellectual property matters, including, IP portfolio management, freedom-to-operate opinions, cybersecurity, litigation, agreement drafting and ne...

Prior to beginning his legal career, Mr. Rettig worked in the automotive industry and held various product engineering and sales positions. He joined an intellectual property law firm in 1988, and concentrated his practice on obtaining and enforcing patents, trademarks and copyrights for clients in various fields, with a particular emphasis in the automotive industry. After practicing for 11 years, he joined a Tier I automotive supplier as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secreta...

Michael Costello concentrates his practice in commercial and corporate law and litigation. He provides his clients with deep expertise and insight into a broad range of legal and business issues having served for 23 years as general counsel to a publicly-traded company. Mr. Costello leverages this experience to provide efficient and effective counsel to large businesses in a variety of industries as well as high net worth individuals and their closely-held companies. He frequently advises boa...

James P. Cunningham maintains one of the most highly regarded family law and divorce litigation practices in the state. In his over 30 years in practice, he has represented numerous men and women well-known in the Detroit metropolitan community. His career includes ten published appellate cases concerning important family law issues, three of these before the Michigan Supreme Court. A prolific author, Jay has published over twenty articles on family law topics. He lectures extensively through...